Parallel Newton type methods for power system stability analysis using local and shared memory multiprocessors

Both the very dishonest Newton (VDHN) and the successive over relaxed (SOR) Newton algorithms have been implemented on the iPSC/2 and Alliant FX/8 computers for power system dynamic simulation using complex generator and nonlinear load models. The main thrust is to explore the match between the algorithms, their implementation, and the machine architectures. For example, the less parallel but sequentially faster VDHN runs faster on the hypercube (iPSC/2) whereas the more parallel SOR-Newton requires data sharing more often because of the extra iterations and does better on the Alliant. The implementation on the hypercube requires significant manual programming to schedule the processors and their communication whereas the compiler in the Alliant recognizes parallel steps but only if the software is properly coded. The authors present these various considerations together with the results.<>